452 



BRANCHES OF EXTERNAL ILIAC ARTERY. 



The epigastric artery is accompanied by two rci/is, which unite into 

 a single trunk before ending in the external iliac vein. 



In its course upwards from Poupart's ligament to the rectus muscle, 

 the artery passes close to the inner side of the internal abdominal ring ; 

 and the vas deferens, entering through the ring, turns behind the artery 

 in descending into the pelvis. 



Branches. —These are small but numerous. 



(fl) The crcmaffteric ai-tery. a slender branch, accompanies the speimatic cord, 

 and, supplying- the cremaster muscle and other coverings of the cord, anasto- 

 moses with the spennatic artery. 



(h) Several muscular branches arise from each side of the epigastric artery, 

 ramify in the rectus muscle, and commiuiicate v:i\h. the branches of the lumbar 

 and circumflex iliac arteries. 



(r) Sujhrficial branches perforate the abdominal muscles, and join beneath 

 the skin with branches of the superficial epigastric artery. 



{(l) The pubic is a small branch, which ramifies behind the pubes, and commu- 

 nicates by means of one or more descending twigs with a similar branch from 

 the obturator artery 



Fi''. 200. 



Fig. 290. — View of the relation of 

 THE Vessels of the Groin to a 

 Femoral Hernia, &c. (from R, 

 Quain). \ 



In the upper part of the figure a 

 portion of the flat muscles of the 

 abdomen has been removed, displaying 

 in part the transvereahs fascia and 

 peritoneum ; in the lower the fascia 

 lata of the thigh i" in part removed 

 and the sheath of the femoral vessels 

 opened. 



a, anterior superior spinous process 

 of the ilium ; h, aponeurosis of the ex- 

 ternal oblique muscle ; c, the perito- 

 neum and fascia transversalis ; d, the 

 iliac portion of the fascia lata near the 

 saphenic opening ; c, sac of a femoral 

 hei-nia opened ; 1, femoral artery ; 2, 

 femoral vein at the place where it is 

 joined by the saphena vein ; 3, deep 

 epigastric artery and vein ; +, placed 

 upon the tipper part of the femoral 

 vein close below the common trunk of 

 the epigastric and an aberrant obtu- 

 rator artery ; the latter artery is seen 

 in this case to pass close to the vein 

 between it and the neck of the hernial 

 tumour. 



2. The deep circumflex iliac artery, smaller than the preceding 

 vessel, arises from the outer side of the iliac artery near Poupart's liga- 

 ment, and is directed outwards behind that band to the anterior supe- 

 rior iliac spine. Following thence the crest of the hip-bone, the artery 

 gives branches to the iliacus and abdominal muscles, and anastomoses 

 with the ilio-lumbar artery. In its course outwards, this artery lies 

 in front of the transversalis fascia, at the junction of this with the 

 fascia iliaca. 



Two veins accompany the circumflex iliac artery ; these unite below 



